THE GARDA STRIKE was called off last night and after it was agreed to put a ballot to members.
GRA president Ciarán O’Neill welcomed the improved offer saying one aspect which was especially welcome was that the pay increases would not be introduced on a phased basis but instead would be implemented straight away.
Here’s a breakdown of what’s on the table:
O’Neill told Morning Ireland that the government was to blame for bringing the talks to the wire.
He said: “It was a tight margin and down to the fact it was put down to the wire. One can only blame the government for not utilising state agencies. This notification for action came out on 28 September.
The Government had five weeks to deal with it but they left it to the last minute. They were dragging their heels”
While some media reports this morning claim the Government threatened that martial law would be implemented on the strike days, O’Neill would not confirm the specifics of what was said.
However, he did say there were fears for the security of the State.
Speaking on RTÉ, assistant garda commissioner Michael O’Sullivan said: “We had a contingency plan yesterday, which we suspended at 7am this morning, in which we had a particular deployment of personnel throughout the country, and at no stage did martial law appear in the plan at all, nor was it necessary.”
Meanwhile, the GRA took out a full page ad in national newspapers showing a garda who was attacked in the line of duty.
It reads: “Eight years ago, Garda Helena Power was repeatedly kicked in the face until her eye socket fractured. She’s still suffering pay cuts.”
The ad was timed to coincide with the first day of historic garda strikes.
It was intended to show what officers face every day and why they deserve the pay increases.
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